Door-locking arrangement for automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

A locking arrangement for the automotive vehicle doors in which a manipulating means is connected with a locking means in a disengageable connection normally engaged for moving said locking means from the locked position to the unlocked position, or vice versa, as required. The locking means moves together with the manipulating means until the locking or unlocking is completed. After the locking or unlocking is accomplished, the manipulating means can continue further movement for the sake of operating a switching means to connect an energy source with an automatic locking means, leaving the locking means in the locked or unlocked position.

United States Patent [56] liketemrrew Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,934,930 5/1960 Garvey.........................

Inventor Kenichi Kazaokn Kariya-shi, Japan [211 Appl. No. 838,125

[22] Filed July 1,1969 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 ABSTRACT: A lockingarrangement for the automotive vehicle doors in which a manipulatingmeans is connected with a locking means in a disengageable connectionnormally engaged for moving said locking means from the locked positionto the unlocked position, or vice versa, as required. The

locking means moves together with the manipulating means until thelocking or unlocking is completed. After the locking 70/264}, orunlocking is accomplished, the manipulating means can 292/216 continuefurther movement for the sake of operating a E05b 65/36, switching meansto connect an energy source with an auto- EOSb 65/38 matic lockingmeans, leaving the locking means in the locked 70/264 or unlockedposition.

[73] Assignee Aisln Selkl Kabushlkl Keisha Kai-lye, Japan [54]DOOR-LOKIKING ARRANGEMENT F 011 AUTOMUIWE VEHICLE 7 Claims, 8 DrawingFigs.

[51] llnt. [50] Field DOOR-LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a latch lock foran automotive vehicle.

As used herein, the term locking means refers to the means which enablesthe inside door handle or outside door handle to permit or prevent thelatch to be moved relative to the striker plate on the door jamb. Theterm manipulating means" refers to a means which is used to direct thelocking means to act either to lock or unlock the door.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a singlecontrol for a vehicle door locking system which, in combination with anelectrical switching means operative by a mere excessive movement of amanipulating means, provides automatic locking of all the selected doorsin the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a latch lockwhich is readily adaptable to a simple and economical conversion bycombination with an electrical switching means which is actuated by asimple movement of the manipulating means for providing an automaticlocking of all of the selected doors in the vehicle.

In addition to simplifying the latch lock, the invention greatly reducesnot only the number of parts of the assembly but provides a latch lock,in which the installation of the forgoing components in the vehicle dooris an easy matter and therefore low in labor cost when the vehicle isstill stripped during the building thereof. The single controlof thepresent invention is introduced into a system wherein the normal vehi'cle latch locks of the doors are coupled to fluid pressure motors ormagnetic solenoids.

In the latch lock, the manipulative means and the locking means are in adisengageable connection normally engaged for moving said locking meansfrom the locked position to the unlocked position, or vice versa, asrequired. The locking means moves together with the manipulating meansuntil the locking or unlocking is accomplished. After the locking orunlocking is accomplished, the manipulating means can continue furtherits movement for operation of a switching means to connect an energysource with an automatic lock-actuating means, leaving the locking meansin the locked or unlocked position.

The locking means of the present invention may involve those types oflocking means which bring the inside or outside door handle intodisengageable connection with the latching member as well as thoselocking means which prevents the action transmitted from the inside oroutside door handle to be transmitted to the latching means.

Further, any type of inside or outside door handle may be used for thelatch lock of the invention, so long as the engageable and disengageablerelation is ensured relative to the latching member.

Still further, the disengageable connection which is normally engagedwhich the locking means may involve any connection so long as thelocking means can be moved until the locking means accomplishes itslocking or unlocking action and the manipulating means can move furtherto actuate the switching means while the locking means remains in itslocked position or unlocked position.

Although a flexible member is ordinarily used for the purpose of thedisengageable and normally engaged connection, between the manipulatingmeans and the locking means by reason of the fact that the restoringfunction of the manipulating means is beneficially obtained when themanipulation for the switching means is accomplished and the operatorceases his manipulating action, such restoring function is not alwaysrequired. This will be found in the description hereinbelow in greaterdetail.

In the instance that a fluid pressure is coupled with the latch lock ofthe present invention, a source of fluid pressure is provided, such asthe engine manifold. Conduit means are provided between this source offluid pressure, in this instance vacuum, and the fluid pressure motorsassociated with each of the vehicle doors. These conduit means includeonly a single conduit connection to each of the fluid pressure motors. Acontrol valve exists in the above-described conduit means, restoring thevacuum transmitted to the motors after the automatic locking action hasbeen terminated.

As long as the vehicle is moving, such vacuum can be obtainable foractuating the locking means. However, provision of a reservoir vacuumtank will suffice to attain such effect when the vehicle is brought tostop. In "the instance where the fluid pressure motors are replaced byelectric solenoids, the switch means is directly connected to thesolenoids provided in each of the doors of the vehicle in associationwith each of the latch locks of the doors. In this instance, theautomatic locking may be effected either when the vehicle is brought tostop, so long as the battery energy is available for the source ofenergy.

The present invention will be more fully understood when followingportion of the specification are read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedoor locking mechanism; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lineII-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 which shows a state when themanipulating means is in operation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along theline 1-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the latch lock as in FIG. 1 but with aportion removed;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the entire arrangement of the doorlocking system showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where solenoids are used foractuating the latch lock in another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away view of the control valve of theembodiment shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, thelatch lock which is actuated by a pneumatic motor 2, operates in afollowing manner.

Ratchet wheel 3 is mounted on shaft 4 on which a rotary door latch (notshown) is coaxially secured in engagement with the door striker plate(not shown) on the door jamb to lock or unlock the vehicle door. Pawl 5is pivotally mounted on plate 6 by pin 7 so as to engage its end withthe ratchet wheel 3 by the bias of spring 8 having one end anchored onpin 9 on the pawl 5 and the other end anchored in a slot of the pin 7 asillustrated so that pawl 5 is normally biased toward the ratchet teethto be in engagement with the ratchet wheel 3. Bellcrank lever 10 iscoaxially pivoted on pin 7 with pawl 5, at one end of which is a prong Il. The other end of the bellcrank lever 10 is fitted within slot 12 inplate 6 to permit pivoting thereof. Bellcrank lever 13 is pivotallymounted on the flange 6' of the plate 6 by pin 14, with being connectedin abutment relationship the bellcrank lever 10 so as to be rotated bythe lever 13 in a clockwise direction against the bias of spring 8through the pawl 5, prong II, and lever 10. The other leg of thebellcrank lever 13 is coupled to the conventional inside door handle(not shown) for manual unlocking. Bellcrank lever I5 is pivotallymounted on the molding (not shown) of the vehicle door by pin 16. One ofthe legs of the lever 15 is coupled to one end of rod 17 of which theother end is connected to lever 10 and, the other end of lever 15being.coupied to outside door handle (not shown) of the vehicle so thatmanual unlocking from outside the vehicle can be effected.

When the bellcrank lever 13 is rotated counterclockwise through an angleby manipulation of the inside door handle, the bellcrank lever 10 pivotstogether with the pawl 5 against the bias of the spring 8 in a clockwisedirection about pin 7 and the ratchet wheel 3, that is the latch (notshown) coaxially secured on the shaft 4 is free to move relative to thestriker plate (not shown) on the door jamb to permit the vehicle door tobe pulled to an open position.

It will be seen that clockwise pivoting of the bellcrank lever 15 bymanipulation of the outside door handle of the vehicle will cause thesame action as is caused by the counterclockwise rotation of the lever13. Lever 18 is pivotally mounted on plate 6 by pin 19. Shaft 20 of aconventional manual door locking and unlocking pin or nob 21 extendsthrough the molding (not shown) of the vehicle door. Shaft 20 isfastened to one end of inverted T-shaped lever 22 adapted to pivot aboutpin 23, the other end of lever 22 fitting within notched recess 18 oflever 18. The other end of the inverted T-shaped lever 22 is coupled toconnector 24 by pin 25 movably inserted within the elongated slot 26 atthe end of the connector 24. A second lever 27 is coaxially pivoted withthe lever 22 by'pin 23, to one end of which is coupled shaft 28. Theshaft 28 is fastened to diaphragm 28d which subdivides the chamber ofthe motor 2 shown in FIG. 1 into two chambers 2a and 2b. Swedged portion27' of the flange 6 and the lever define the range of rotation of thedownwardly extending leg of the lever 27. Accordingly, reciprocation ofthe shaft 28 is limited within in the corresponding range of stroke.

One end of the lever 18 is coupled to rod 29 in a manner such that theend of the rod 29 can move within the elongated slot 18" of the lever18. The other end of the rod 29 is coupled to the conventional keycylinder 3050 that the manipulation of the key cylinder with key 31results in pivoting the lever 18 about pin 19. The length of the slot18" is calculated so that the rod 29 may return a distance necessary topull out the key after the locking is completed, leaving the lever 18 insuch locked position.

The lever 22 and 27 are coaxially mounted on pin 23 as described aboveand are rotatable with respect to each other. Each of these levers isprovided at a corresponding upper portion with opposed recesses 32 and33 respectively, as shown in greater detail in sectional view of FIG. 2.In the chamber formed by combining these two opposed recesses, there isprovided a compression spring 34, the force of the spring 34 beingcalculated sufficiently to bear the load imposed by the movement of thelever 22 for pivoting the lever 27 to the locked or unlocked position.After the rotation of lever 27 is stopped by the swedged portion 27' orlever l0, continued movement of the lever 22 causes retraction of thespring 34. When the lever 27 is rotated in a counterclockwise directionand the lower extremity' end of the lever 27 abuts the upper edge of thelever 10, the lever 10 is thereafter prevented from rotating about thepin 7. Thus the ratchet wheel 3 is not free to rotate relative to thestriker plate (not shown) on the door jamb to permit the vehicle door tobe pulled to an openposition and the door is locked. The snap actingspring 27" holds the lever 27 in such locked position. As long as thelever 27 stays in the locked position, any attempt to pull the door toan open position will fail, even though a force is applied through theoutside door lever or inside door handle, i.e. through lever or lever 13respectively. When the lever 22 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, thelever 27 shifts its lower extremity end to the left in FIG. 1 and thusthe above-described locking action is released, the lock becomingunlocked. The snap acting spring holds the lever 27 in the unlockedposition. It is readily understood that above described action of thelever 27 is introduced either through the key cylinder 30 or the insidedoor nob 21. If either of them is excessively manipulated over theamount of movement required to lock the latch lock, the retraction ofthe spring 34 is brought about and the connector 24 is moved to the leftor right in FIG. 1, as the case may be. Further continued movement ofthe lever 22 against the bias of the spring 34 will cause the pin 25 tomove to the end of the elongated slot 26 of the connector 24 and willthence cause the sliding terminal 35 (FIG. 4) to be brought into contactwith stationary terminal 37 or 38. As soon as the abovedescribed lockingmanipulation has ceased, the lever 22 will return under the force of thespring 34 to its previous position where the locking lever 27 remainsstationary.

Such return motion is in turn accompanied by the restoring of thesliding terminal to the position shown in FIG. 2 by the restoring forceof the spring 34 and either of the spring 39a or 39b. The elongated slot26 is calculated so as to allow the lever 22 to rotate sufficiently tocomplete the locking and unlocking while the connector 24 is in restposition and so as to cause the continued movement of the lever 22 to beaccompanied by the movement of the connector 24.

In FIG. 8 is shown a control valve means 40 having solenoids 41 and 42which includes magnetic coil 48, core 47, plunger 49 and valve 50. Sincesolenoid 42 has a construction identical with that of the solenoid 41,description of solenoid 42 is. the same as that of the solenoid 41 ashereinbelow described. Conduits 44 and 44' leading from each of thechambers 2a and 2b of each of the motors 2 in the vehicle doorscommunicates with the chamber 52,'conduit 60 leading from the vacuumsource (not shown) communicating with the chamber 52. A valve is affixedto the plunger 49 at the extremity end of the stem 53 of the valve 50and is in rest condition when against seat 54 by spring 55. The chamber52 communicates with atmospheric pressure through circumferentialclearance between the stem 53 and seat 56 and inlet 57.

Incident to starting of the vehicle engine, the intake manifold willcause the evacuation of chamber 52 because conduit 60 communicates withsaid vacuum source. When a manipulating means such as key cylinder 30 ismanipulated more than is required in the normal unlocked condition andin turn the sliding terminal 35 of the switch 36 is brought in contactwith terminal 37, the solenoid 41 is energized. The valve 50 is thenceunseated from seat 54 and each of the chambers 2a of each of the motors2 will be evacuated through chamber 52 (FIG. 8) and also conduit 44which is in communication with all of the chambers 20. Since during theoperation, the valve 50 engages with upper seat 56 and the communicationof the chamber 51 with the atmospheric pressure is interrupted, theevacuation of the chamber 2a is not disturbed.

The evacuation of the chamber 2a which is performed in the abovedescribed manner will result in the downward movement of diaphragm 28dmounted in the motor 2 with the corresponding downward movement of theshaft 28 affixed to said diaphragm. The downward movement of the shaft28 will result in the rotation in a counterclockwise direction on thelever 27 and thus locking of the latch lock is effected as seen in FIG.5. The lever'is held in its locking position by the snap acting spring27" which has its one end anchored in flange 6' and the other end in thelever 27 as shown in FIG. 5. The lever 27 is held in the unlockedposition in the same way when the chamber 2b is communicated with thevacuum source. After the locking action is completed and as soon as theoperator releases the key cylinder or nob as the case may be, theslidable terminal 35 of the switch 36 return to its first position underthe urging of the spring 34 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows the statein which spring 34 is retracted by the greater movement of the lever 22than the normal unlocking movement.

As soon as the slidable terminal 35 returns to the neutral rest positionas shown in FIG. 4, the electrical circuit which has connected thesolenoid 41 with battery 45 (FIG. 6) is opened and hence the valve 50returns to its rest position as shown in FIG. 8. By such return of thevalve 50, the chamber 2a communicates with the atmospheric pressurethrough conduit 44, chamber 51 and valve 50 unseats from the seat 56 sothat both chambers 2a and 2b are returned to the atmospheric pressurethereafter.

It should be noted that the latch lock of the present invention isordinarily provided in both driver's and front passengers doors so thateither of them can manipulate the latch lock.

It should be further noted that there is really no use as to thediaphragm 28d of the particular latch lock which is provided in theoperators door because the diaphragm is deflected by matic locking ofthe doors other than the operators.

Accordingly, switch 36 is provided in the driver's door, while switch36' is provided in the front passenger's door so that either of them canremotely control the other doors, namely when either of the switches isclosed the automatic locking of the other doors will be effected.

The above-described locking arrangement may be replaced by a fullelectrical magnetic arrangement as shown in FIG. 7.

to that of the chamber 2b, iron armature 128d causing the same actioncaused by the diaphragm 28d of the motor.

Action and construction not specifically set forth in the abovespecification will be apparent to those who are skilled in the art byreasoning from the similar numerals having primes placed to the rightthereof.

it will be found in the drawing that numerals 45, and 145, 36 and 136,2, and 102 respectively refer to corresponding parts of differentembodiments and numerals 58, 59 refer to wires form electric circuitsbetween the battery and the solenoids.

What is claimed is:

l. Door-locking arrangement for automotive vehicles comprising aplurality of mechanical latch means on each door, a plurality of motormeans for operating said corresponding latch means,

each latch means having a locking member movable between the locked andunlocked positions and a cooperating plate resiliently coupledtherewith,

each motor means operatively connected to its associated locking member,manipulating means on the door including a movable member inside thevehicle and a key member outside the vehicle, said plate being movabletogether with said locking member, and further movable by. saidmanipulating means beyond the movable range of said locking member,

a common energy source,

a control valve for selective supply of the energy from motor means,

an electrical switching means for actuating said control valve,

said plate being operatively connected both to said switching means andto said manipulating means,

said switching means being actuated by said plate when any one of saidmanipulating means is operated to move said plate beyond the movablerange of said locking member whereby said control valve is operated toact on each of said motor means.

2. Door-locking arrangement of claim ll wherein said locking member andsaid plate are pivotally mounted on said mechanical latch and inback-to-back relationship to each other.

3. Door-locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein said plate is shapedsupply and interruption of said energy source to said means compriseselectrically operated means.

1. Door-locking arrangement for automotive vehicles comprising aplurality of mechanical latch means on each door, a plurality of motormeans for operating said corresponding latch means, each latch meanshaving a locking member movable between the locked and unlockedpositions and a cooperating plate resiliently coupled therewith, eachmotor means operatively connected to its associated locking member,manipulating means on the door including a movable member inside thevehicle and a key member outside the vehicle, said plate being movabletogether with said locking member, and further movable by saidmanipulating means beyond the movable range of said locking member, acommon energy source, a control valve for selective supply andinterruption of supply of the energy from said energy source to saidmOtor means, an electrical switching means for actuating said controlvalve, said plate being operatively connected both to said switchingmeans and to said manipulating means, said switching means beingactuated by said plate when any one of said manipulating means isoperated to move said plate beyond the movable range of said lockingmember whereby said control valve is operated to act on each of saidmotor means.
 2. Door-locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein said lockingmember and said plate are pivotally mounted on said mechanical latch andin back-to-back relationship to each other.
 3. Door-locking arrangementof claim 1 wherein said plate is shaped as a substantially inverted T, afirst leg thereof being connected to said movable member, a second legthereof being connected to said key member, and a third leg thereofbeing connected to said switching means.
 4. Door-locking arrangement ofclaim 1 wherein said locking member and said plate are provided withopposed recesses at corresponding portions thereof and further comprisesresilient means housed in said opposed recesses.
 5. Door-lockingarrangement of claim 4 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring. 6.Door-locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises apneumatic means.
 7. Door-locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein saidmotor means comprises electrically operated means.